Grand home near York for sale with Rowntree claim to fame

The Rowntree family are best known as chocolatiers but that was not the only profession they excelled at. Fred Rowntree, second cousin of the renowned Seebohm who built Rowntrees into one of the world’s biggest cocoa and chocolate firms, was a renowned architect.

His well-known projects include the Homestead, which was Seebohm’s house, the central offices at Rowntree’s Cocoa Works, Yearsley swimming baths, several buildings at Bootham School and the West China Union University.

Heavily influenced by the Arts and Crafts style and with a commitment to craftsmanship, another great triumph was Cherry Hill at Brandsby, near Easingwold, which is now for sale at £2.35m with Savills.

The 9,150 sq ft country house completed in 1909 bears all the hallmarks of a great architect. It is light-filled and its south-facing orientation ensures that there are uninterrupted views towards York and beyond.

The Tregellis family, who bought the house in 2008, have respected Fred Rowntree’s original vision when renovating the property. The sympathetic restoration included everything from rewiring, replumbing, and improved insulation to a new kitchen with Aga.

“We were very pleased to find this house. It is a wonderful place and we liked that the property is surrounded by its own land, which gives it total privacy,” says Mr Tregellis.

The project to update the property took a year but the wait was worthwhile. “The house still has all the period features from when it was built just over 100 years ago,” says Mr Tregellis, who is selling now that his children have grown up and moved on. “This really is a family house and we want to find someone who will love it as we have.”

Most of the principal reception rooms and bedrooms are south facing and overlook the formal gardens. The upper floors have nine bedrooms, some with bathrooms and dressing rooms, and the former school rooms on the second floor are now a craft room and a games room.

Outside, there are electric gates and a driveway leading to the triple garage and stores. Along with gardens, there is an energy-efficient swimming pool with changing room, a tennis court plus a paddock measuring about 2.5 acres with a water supply. A further three acres of land could be available by separate negotiation.

Contact: Savills, York, tel: 01904 617800, www.savills.co.uk

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James Mitchinson